Qatar, a key power in the efforts to release hostages seized by Hamas from Israel, believes they can be released “very soon” thanks to ongoing discussions, a Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman told the German Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

“I can’t promise you this will happen today or tomorrow or after tomorrow.But we are taking a path that will very soon lead to the release of the hostages, especially civilians,” Majed Al-Ansari said.

“We are currently working on an agreement under which all civilian hostages will be initially released,” he added.

Israel says 203 people — Israelis, dual nationals and foreigners — were abducted by Hamas fighters.